Chapter 2: The Man in My Office
I didn't remember driving home.
I only remembered Dad sitting beside me, clutching the aluminum pie container, and the sound of Lily's frightened voice repeating in my head.
When I pulled into the driveway, a black Mercedes was parked behind my SUV.
I had never seen it before.
Dad stared at the vehicle.
“That's not one of Vanessa's relatives, is it?””
“No.””
I helped him out of the truck.
“Stay close to me.””
The front door was unlocked.
Inside, the house smelled of roasted turkey, cinnamon, and expensive candles.
Vanessa's family was laughing in the dining room.
Nobody seemed to notice that my father had been excluded from the celebration.
I walked straight toward my office.
The door was partially open.
Through the gap, I saw Vanessa standing beside my desk.
A tall man in a charcoal suit was holding a thick folder.
He looked to be in his early forties, with carefully styled dark hair and a silver watch.
Vanessa was speaking quietly.
“Make sure everything is signed before Monday,” she said.
The man nodded.
“Once the documents are filed, he won't be able to stop the transfer.””
I pushed the door open.
“What transfer?””
Both of them turned.
Vanessa's face went pale for half a second.
Then she smiled.
“Marcus! You're back.””
I looked at the man.
“Who are you?””
He closed the folder.
“Daniel.””
“Daniel what?””
“Daniel Brooks. I'm Vanessa's attorney.””
I glanced at my wife.
“Since when do you need an attorney in my office?””
Vanessa stepped toward me.
“Don't be dramatic. Daniel is helping us organize some financial paperwork.””
I looked at the folder.
“What paperwork?””
“Household documents.””
“Then why did I hear you talking about transferring something?””
Daniel cleared his throat.
“Mr. Hale, perhaps we should schedule a formal conversation.””
“I'm asking you a question. What are you transferring?””
Vanessa's voice sharpened.
“Marcus, you're making a scene. My family is here.””
Behind me, Dad quietly entered the hallway.
Vanessa saw him.
Her expression turned ugly.
“Oh, wonderful. You brought him back.””
Dad lowered his eyes.
“I can wait outside if—”
“No,” I interrupted.
“You're staying.””
Daniel placed the folder inside his briefcase.
I stepped closer.
“Put it back.””
He looked at Vanessa.
She shook her head slightly.
“Marcus, this is private legal work.””
“Then you shouldn't have been doing it with my daughter in the house.””
At that moment, Lily appeared behind my father.
She ran straight into my arms.
“Daddy!””
I hugged her.
“It's okay, sweetheart.””
She whispered into my shoulder.
“Mommy told Uncle Daniel that he could have your office after we left.””
Vanessa's face tightened.
“Lily, stop making things up.””
Daniel crouched slightly.
“Hey, Lily. Remember what we discussed?””
I looked at him.
“What did you discuss with my daughter?””
He immediately stood.
“Nothing inappropriate. She misunderstood.””
I turned toward Vanessa.
“Why is this man discussing our living arrangements with our eight-year-old?””
Vanessa sighed.
“Because children need stability, Marcus. Something you've clearly forgotten.””
I stared at her.
“What does that mean?””
She crossed her arms.
“It means you've been distracted. Working constantly. Ignoring this family. Someone has to make decisions.””
Dad finally spoke.
“Vanessa, why did you tell me Marcus lost his job?””
She spun around.
“Excuse me?””
“You took eighteen thousand dollars from me. You said my son was struggling.””
Daniel looked up sharply.
Vanessa's face changed.
“Eighteen thousand?””
I watched her carefully.
“That's what you received from him.””
She laughed nervously.
“Your father offered to help.””
“No. You told him I was unemployed.””
“I was trying to protect him!””
Dad's voice trembled.
“Protect me from what? My own son?””
Vanessa pointed toward the front door.
“This is exactly why I didn't want him here. He always turns everything into an interrogation.””
I stepped between them.
“Don't talk to him like that.””
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Daniel closed his briefcase.
“Vanessa, I think we should leave.””
She grabbed his arm.
“Not yet.””
I looked at the briefcase.
“Before you go, I want copies of whatever documents you brought.””
Daniel shook his head.
“Those are confidential.””
“I'm the owner of this house.””
Vanessa suddenly laughed.
“Actually, Marcus, that's precisely what we need to discuss.””
She reached into the desk drawer and pulled out a white envelope.
Then she placed it on my desk.
“Open it.””
I stared at her.
“What is this?””
“Your future.””
Inside was a printed copy of a property deed.
My name appeared at the top.
So did Vanessa's.
But beneath our names was a document I had never seen before.
A transfer agreement.
The property was being prepared for transfer into a company called Brooks Family Holdings.
The proposed signing date was the following Monday.
I looked at Daniel.
“Why is my house being transferred to your company?””
He didn't answer.
Vanessa smiled.
“Because I've been making arrangements for our separation.””
My throat tightened.
“You're planning to sell our home?””
“Not sell. Transfer.””
“Without my permission?””
She leaned closer.
“Marcus, you don't understand how much trouble you're in.””
I looked at Dad.
He was standing near the doorway, holding the pie with both hands.
Then I looked back at my wife.
“What trouble?””
Vanessa opened her mouth.
But Daniel interrupted her.
“Vanessa, don't.””
She glared at him.
“It's too late.””
Then she pulled another document from the envelope.
It was a copy of a loan agreement.
My signature was at the bottom.
May you like
Except I had never signed it.
And the amount borrowed against our house was $240,000.
